Key Takeaways
• Maine’s transitional housing program for asylum seekers ends September 30, 2025, impacting hundreds of families.
• Program costs exceed $19 million; hotel leases account for the largest expenses at $16 million.
• Fewer arrivals and federal funding cuts led to program closure; new arrivals now rely on General Assistance.
Maine is ending its transitional housing program for asylum seekers, with the final closure set for September 30, 2025. This major change affects hundreds of families who have relied on these services since 2022, as state officials cite budget problems, fewer new arrivals, and federal funding cuts as the main reasons for winding down the program.
What’s Happening and Why Now?
Maine’s transitional housing program for asylum seekers will officially close on September 30, 2025. Only those already enrolled before this date will keep getting help. The state made this decision because of rising costs, less money from the federal government, and a sharp drop in the number of new asylum seekers coming to Maine in recent months. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these combined pressures have made it impossible for the state to keep the program running at its current scale.
Governor Janet Mills’ administration, working with MaineHousing and local officials, has managed the program since its start in 2022. The administration says the costs have become too high to keep up, especially with fewer new families arriving and less federal support. A large shelter in Portland will also close as part of this broader effort to reduce spending on housing for asylum seekers.
How Many People Are Affected?
The numbers show just how important the transitional housing program has been for Maine’s immigrant community:
- Nearly 1,000 people have been served since 2022 at two main sites: Saco and South Portland.
- As of early 2025, 86 households still live in the Saco program.
- The Saco program has cost about $19 million over 39 months, with $16 million spent just on hotel leases.
- Keeping the Saco program open for one more year would cost about $6 million, including $5.1 million for hotel space.
- The South Portland program housed 241 people for one year (2023–2024) at a cost of $4.3 million.
These figures highlight the high cost of providing temporary housing, especially when using hotels as shelters.
Who Runs the Program and What Services Are Provided?
MaineHousing is the state agency responsible for leasing the Saco hotel and working with Catholic Charities Maine, which runs daily operations at the site. Catholic Charities Maine offers more than just a place to stay. They provide job training, English classes, and help families find permanent housing. Charles Mugabe, the migration director at Catholic Charities Maine, says he is confident that most of the remaining households will find permanent homes before the program ends. He also points out that the program has helped many work-eligible asylum seekers find jobs, which is a key step toward self-sufficiency.
Why Is the Program Ending?
Several factors have led to the decision to close the transitional housing program:
- Budget Constraints: The cost of running the program, especially with hotel leases, has become too high for the state to manage.
- Federal Funding Cuts: Recent reductions in federal support for these types of programs have left Maine with fewer resources.
- Fewer New Arrivals: Changes in federal immigration policy under President Biden have led to a significant drop in the number of new asylum seekers coming to Maine. The Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future released a report noting that it’s hard to predict how many asylum seekers will come in the future, making it risky to keep investing in large-scale programs.
What Happens to Current Residents?
For the 86 households still in the Saco program, the next few months are critical. Catholic Charities Maine and state partners are working hard to help these families find permanent housing before the September 30 deadline. This transition is not just about finding a roof over their heads. The end of the program also means losing access to important support services, such as:
- Health care connections
- Education for children and adults
- Workforce training and job placement help
These services have been especially important for asylum seekers who are waiting for federal work authorization, a process that can take months or even years.
What About New Arrivals?
As of July 2025, new asylum seekers arriving in Maine are not eligible for the transitional housing program. Instead, they must look for help through the General Assistance program, which is funded by the state and local towns. The Mills administration is also proposing new limits on General Assistance housing vouchers to keep costs under control. This means that support for new arrivals will be more limited, and families may face longer waits or more uncertainty as they try to find stable housing.
Are There Other Support Options?
While the transitional housing program is ending, some other programs still offer help, though not at the same scale:
- GAP Rental Assistance Program: Provides some rental help for low-income families, including asylum seekers, but has limited funding and strict eligibility rules.
- Local Resettlement Initiatives: Cities like Portland have their own resettlement programs, but these are much smaller and cannot replace the statewide transitional housing program.
- Catholic Charities Maine and Other Nonprofits: Continue to offer case management, job training, and other support, but resources are stretched thin.
For more information on available housing support and eligibility, readers can visit the MaineHousing official website.
Background: How Did We Get Here?
The Asylum Seeker Transitional Housing Program began in 2022, when Maine saw a sharp increase in families fleeing violence and instability in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and Haiti. Many of these families arrived with little money and no place to stay. The state responded by leasing hotels and working with nonprofits to provide not just shelter, but also the tools families needed to start new lives in Maine.
The program was designed to help families become self-sufficient while they waited for federal work permits. This included English classes, job training, and help finding permanent housing. Over time, the program became a model for how states can support new arrivals in a way that goes beyond just providing a bed for the night.
However, recent changes in federal immigration policy have slowed the flow of new asylum seekers to Maine. At the same time, the cost of running the program has continued to rise, especially as hotel prices have gone up and federal funding has gone down.
What Do State Officials Say?
State officials, including those in Governor Mills’ administration, say they have no choice but to end the program. They point to the high cost of hotel leases and the unpredictability of future arrivals. “We have to be responsible with taxpayer money,” one official said. “With fewer new families coming and less help from the federal government, we simply can’t keep the program going at this level.”
The state has looked at other options, such as buying the Saco hotel for long-term use, but decided against it because of the high price and worries about future maintenance costs.
What Do Service Providers and Advocacy Groups Say?
Service providers like Catholic Charities Maine highlight the program’s success in helping asylum seekers integrate into the community. They worry that ending the program will leave many families without the support they need to succeed. “We’ve seen firsthand how important these services are,” said Charles Mugabe. “Our goal now is to make sure every family finds a safe, stable home before the program ends.”
Advocacy groups are also concerned. They say the loss of integrated support services will make it harder for new arrivals to find work, get health care, and enroll their children in school. They are calling on the state to find new ways to support asylum seekers, even as the main program winds down.
How Will This Affect Maine’s Communities?
The end of the transitional housing program will have ripple effects across Maine:
- For Asylum Seekers: Many families face uncertainty about where they will live and how they will access basic services. Those not already in the program will have to rely on smaller, less stable sources of help.
- For Local Governments: Cities and towns may see higher demand for emergency housing and other services, putting pressure on local budgets.
- For Employers: Some employers who have hired asylum seekers through the program may find it harder to recruit new workers, especially if new arrivals struggle to find stable housing.
- For Schools and Health Providers: The loss of coordinated support may make it harder for schools and clinics to connect with new families and provide needed services.
What Should Affected Families Do Next?
If you are currently in the transitional housing program:
- Work closely with Catholic Charities Maine and state housing navigators to secure permanent housing before September 30, 2025.
- Attend all scheduled meetings and workshops to learn about available rental options, job opportunities, and support services.
- Gather all necessary documents (such as identification, proof of asylum application, and work authorization if available) to speed up the housing search process.
If you are a new arrival or not enrolled in the program:
- Contact MaineHousing, Catholic Charities Maine, or local resettlement agencies for guidance on available resources and eligibility.
- Apply for General Assistance through your local town or city office. Be prepared for possible wait times and limited support.
- Seek out community groups and nonprofits that may offer additional help with food, clothing, and job search.
Looking Ahead: Will There Be New Solutions?
State officials say there are no current plans to restart the transitional housing program after September 2025. However, the situation could change if there is another surge in arrivals or if new funding becomes available. Some advocates are pushing for new models, such as smaller, community-based housing programs or more support for families to find their own apartments.
The state has also considered buying the Saco hotel to use as a long-term shelter, but high costs and concerns about upkeep have made this unlikely. For now, most support will come from smaller programs and local efforts.
Where Can You Get More Information?
For up-to-date information on housing support and eligibility, visit the MaineHousing official website. You can also contact:
- Catholic Charities Maine: ccmaine.org
- Maine Equal Justice: 126 Sewall Street, Augusta ME 04330; Toll-free: 1-866-626-7059
- City of Portland Resettlement Program: portlandmaine.gov/1418/Resettlement-Program
Conclusion: A Major Shift for Maine’s Asylum Seekers
The closure of Maine’s transitional housing program for asylum seekers marks a big change in how the state supports new arrivals. While the program has helped nearly 1,000 people since 2022, rising costs, fewer new arrivals, and less federal funding have forced the state to rethink its approach. As the September 30, 2025, deadline approaches, families, service providers, and local officials are working together to find permanent solutions. The future remains uncertain, but the need for safe, stable housing and support for asylum seekers in Maine is as important as ever.
Learn Today
Transitional Housing Program → Temporary housing and support services helping asylum seekers stabilize while awaiting permanent housing.
Asylum Seekers → Individuals applying for protection due to persecution or danger in their home countries.
Federal Funding Cuts → Reductions in government money that support public programs, impacting resources available for services.
General Assistance Program → State and local aid providing limited emergency support to vulnerable populations, including housing vouchers.
Catholic Charities Maine → A nonprofit organization managing daily operations and support services for asylum seekers in Maine.
This Article in a Nutshell
Maine will end its transitional housing program for asylum seekers in 2025 due to costs, funding cuts, and fewer arrivals. Nearly 1,000 people benefited since 2022, but only those enrolled before September 30 will continue receiving help while alternatives remain limited.
— By VisaVerge.com
